The Department of Defense announced today the
death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sergeant First Class David A. Heringes, 36,
of Tampa, Florida, died August 24,2007, near Tikrit, Iraq, of wounds sustained
when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit during combat
operations in Bayji, Iraq.He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute
Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort
Bragg, North Carolina.

For more information related to this release,
the media may contact the 82nd Airborne Division public affairs office
at (910) 432-0661.
25 August 2007:

Sgt. 1st Class David A. Heringes was supposed
to be in Florida this month, navigating the sprawling world of Disney with
his wife, his children and his parents.

But when the Army extended his 12-month tour
of Iraq to 15 months, he had no choice but to stay with his platoon. And
his family had no choice but to postpone their vacation.

On Friday, they learned that vacation will
not be.

Heringes, 36, an 82nd Airborne Division Paratrooper
from Tampa, Florida, died from injuries he sustained when a landmine detonated
near his vehicle in Bajyi, Iraq.

This was the fourth overseas tour of his 16-year
military career; his first to Iraq.

His father, Ronald Heringes of Spring Hill,
Florida, last spoke to David a week ago. His son was, as he always was,
ready to come home but glad to be doing the business of his country.

“He was very proud of being in the 82nd Airborne
and we were just as proud of him,” Ronald said.

David, a NASCAR fan and motorcycle enthusiast
who twice rode his Harley-Davidson from Fayetteville to Tampa and back,
joined the Army when he was 20, wanting nothing more than to be a paratrooper
with the storied 82nd.

In 16 years, he worked his way from a lowly
private at boot camp to respected platoon sergeant with the Forward Support
Company, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade
Combat Team.

It was during his second tour of Korea in 2004
that the Army warned him Iraq was on the horizon.

He was given three choices, his father said:

1. Go back to the States and prepare for deployment.2. Stay in Korea.3. Try to obtain a hardship deferment.David chose to return to the U.S.

“If I have to go, I’m going to go,” he told
his family.

“Nothing scared him,” his father said.

Even while he was away, dealing with the stress
of war, he found time to call and instant message his parents, reassuring
them that all was fine.

He ended each conversation, whether by phone
or computer, the same way: I love you.

In addition to his father, David is survived
by his mother, Joyce; his wife, Shannon and his two children, Logan and
Cheyenne, of Raeford
Sergeant's Return Had Been DelayedHe Was Injured By Bomb in IraqBy Mark BermanCourtesy of the Washington PostTuesday, September 11, 2007

Sergeant First Class David Heringes was supposed
to return home from Iraq last month, but his tour was extended until November.
He was killed August 24, 2007, near Tikrit, Iraq.

Heringes, 36, of Tampa died from wounds sustained
when a makeshift bomb detonated near his unit during combat operations
in Bayji, northwest of Baghdad, the Department of Defense reported.

He was buried yesterday at Arlington National
Cemetery in front of more than 75 mourners, the 363rd military person killed
in Iraq to be buried there.

An honor guard stretches the
U.S. flag over the coffin of Sergeant First Class David Heringes while Lieutnant Colonel Michael
Barefield, a chaplain, speaks to the family of the slain soldier.

"He loved the military and loved what he did,"
his father, Ronald Heringes, told the St. Petersburg Times.

Lining Heringes's grave site were wreaths and
other floral arrangements, three of which had banners reading "Son," "Brother"
and "Daddy."

As Heringes's flag-draped coffin was carried
to the grave site, trailed by family and friends, his 5-year-old son, Logan,
jogged to try to keep up with his mother, Shannan, at the front of the
group.

At one point during the service, Logan took
a few tentative steps toward his father's coffin before being gently pulled
onto his mother's lap. He wore a set of dog tags around his neck.

The mourners stood as seven riflemen fired
three shots apiece in steady succession and a bugler played taps.

Afterward, folded flags were handed to Heringes's
wife and to his parents, Ronald and Joyce Heringes.

Heringes was to return home last month, so
his parents had planned a trip to Disney World and Orlando for him, his
son and his stepdaughter, Cheyenne Ward, 9.

But when his tour was extended, his parents
went without him, only to receive a phone call during the trip that their
son had been injured.

Heringes moved from Ohio to Tampa in the 10th
grade and graduated from Leto High School in 1989. He joined the military
two years later.

"He was just a big kid who loved soldiering
and died for his country," his great-uncle, Don Kolesar, told the Cleveland
Plain-Dealer.

He also loved cars and motorcycles.

Heringes served nearly 16 years in the military.
He received numerous awards for his service, including the Bronze Star
Medal, the Purple Heart and an Army Commendation Medal with two oak-leaf
clusters.

An Army honor guard lowers the
casket of Army Sergeant First Class David A. Heringes, during afuneral service at Arlington
National Cemetery Monday, September 10, 2007

Two Army chaplains, right, preside
during funeral services for Army Sergeant First Class David A. Heringes at Arlington National Cemetery
Monday, September 10, 2007

A soldier holds an American
flag during funeral services for Army Sergeant First Class David A. Heringes,Monday, September 10, 2007,
at Arlington National Cemetery

Army Major General David Rodriguez,
kneeling at left, presents a folded American flag to the family of Army Sergeant First Class David A.
Heringes, during funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery